Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-09-23
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MUSIC HATH CHARMS.
now Jcspcr viiot Captivatod Rand o
savRges with His Songs.

now Jo.pcr vliot CaptivatOd a Rand of
savages with Ills Songs.
When Jesper Yliet, whose father was
one Of Mlwankce's pioneers, was boy
of fourteen. he shot wolf under rather
thrilling circumstances. Some time
after his adventure with the wolf ho
participated in another with the In
dians. While leaning upon the fence
about his fathers house one evening
savage came up theroad and addressed
him in broken English. His appear
ance denoted long travel, and when he
said that he came all the. way from
Canada the boy did not doubt 1t, His
moccasins were torn so that the toes
protrudcd, his leggins were torn and
cnerusted with mud. There was that.
however, in his mien that betrayed the
chief There was an encampment Of
Indians some five miles to the north
west, and this he was in search of.
Young Viiet offered to guide him to the
lodges. and the two set out together,
but not until the boy had brought the
wanderer cup of fresh milk and slice
OF jollnny-cake from the house, In the
route they passed the swail where Vliet
had shot the wolf, and the boy related
the adventure to his companion.
On arriving Mt the encampment or
"planting ground, y the boy saw at once
that the stranger was chief of great
renown and that unusual ceremonies
were about, to be performed in his
honor. Young Vliet was anxious to
get away, but the Indians would not
permit it. They passed him the kim
ne-kin-niclxn to smoke. The squaws
offered him Fcnison, and taking his
seat outside the circle Of warriors, he
became d silent spectator of the pro-
ceedings.
They smoked in. silence, not simulta-
neously, ut,consecutively, the pipe be-
ing passed from mouth to mouth in
order of rank, the distinguished guest
being allowed to inhale the precious
weed first, At length the chief rose,
and with him the assembly, and then
commenced wild scene Of rejoicing.
Each of the men, seizing brand from
the fire, flourished it over his head,
joining in a wild dance, shouting in
terrific manner. a.
However exciting this display, it soon
became wearisome to Vliet, and he
made another attempt to leave the
camp. The Indians endeayored, in
their limited English, to persuade him
to stay. One savage saidn hC M
s"Makee tay with warrior and shoot
wolf"
But the boy preferred to shoot wolves
about the settlement, and replied that
he would not go with them,
"Makee gol' said the Indian, with
much meaning, at which young yliet
laughed in an incredulous manner.
"Not want shoot wolff"
Eyes, but my father wants mo home
again" ~
It was evident from this that the
stranger had told them of his prowess
with the gray wolf, and also that 1t was
their intention 10 retain him in their
band il possible. Another savage
tempted him by a description of the
Butte des Morts Lake. where they in
tendsl to remove tEeir encampment.
But their persuasions were of no effect.
AS u last inducement one Of the squaws
sang him song in no siren voice, ac-
compaBying herself on a gourd. This
touched Vliet's pride, and having fine
voice, he proposed to sing himself, if
only to show them that they knew
nothing about the art The rude beings
gathered around, and the boy, placed
on a log, with, the glare of their fires
lighting up his form and features, pro-
cee,led to sing for them In . clear,
musical voice the time-honored strains
of "Auld Lang Syne."
He saw that they were pleased, and,
though no applause followed except the
characteristic "oughn and the senten-
tious "good'' by the chief, he felt en-
couraged to make another exhibition of
his vocal powers. He then sang 1.-THE
Harp that Once Through Tara's Halls. "
The savages listened as though spell:
bound. When he had concluded the
men took up pitheir torches, and one of
them signified that he might go now,
and they would accompany him. This
they did, escorting him to his fathers
gate with torches, making tho first
torchlightpr procession that had probably
ever passed over the soil in honor of .
white being. --Mii'odakee Sentinel
The Secretary of the interior has
authorized the Grow Inhians OF
southern Montana to for grazing
purposes 2.G)Oo 90 acres Of land in the
western end of their reservation.
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